MLB Player News

Matz (shoulder) is scheduled to make the third start of his rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Memphis, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

According to Denton, the Cardinals had considered bringing Matz back from the 15-day injured list to start Thursday's series finale in Atlanta, but the organization's brain trust ultimately decided he was better off getting stretched out in the minors for one more outing. After he worked three innings and tossed 45 pitches his last time out for Memphis on Saturday, he'll be aiming for around four innings and 60 pitches Thursday. He'll report back to St. Louis following the start to be re-evaluated, and if the Cardinals are satisfied with the condition of his shoulder, he should be activated and re-enter the rotation during the final week before the All-Star break.

Mahle said Wednesday that his shoulder injury is "not concerning at all," Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Mahle was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain Wednesday, and he underwent an MRI that revealed some non-concerning irritation and inflammation. The right-hander will be shut down for 5-to-7 days to allow his shoulder to heal, but he expects to be back in action shortly after the All-Star break.

Bassitt (illness) is listed as the Mets' probable starter for Friday's game against the Marlins, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Manager Buck Showalter said early this week that Bassitt wouldn't be back in action until at least Thursday, but the right-hander looks like he'll be ready to return from the COVID-19-related injured list for the second game of the home series against the Marlins. Bassitt recorded a 4.70 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 30.2 innings over his five starts prior to landing on the IL.

The Mets reinstated Peterson (personal) from the paternity list ahead of his scheduled start Wednesday against the Reds in Cincinnati, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Peterson was away from the team for the maximum three days while observing the birth of his child, but he hadn't been in line to start in any of the Mets' games during that stretch anyway. He'll return to the mound on his normal four days' rest after he delivered one of the best starts of his career last Friday, when he struck out a season-high 10 batters while giving up three earned runs across six innings in a win over the Rangers.

Mahle was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain Wednesday, retroactive to July 3.

Mahle was scheduled to start the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against Pittsburgh, but he'll be sidelined through the All-Star break after landing on the injured list. It's not yet clear who will take the right-hander's place in the rotation or when he'll be cleared to rejoin the Reds. Mahle posted a 4.58 ERA and 1.53 WHIP in 17.2 innings over his last three appearances.

Cubs manager David Ross said Hendricks will be placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with a right shoulder strain, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Hendricks will miss his final two turns through the rotation before the All-Star break after sustaining the injury in Tuesday's win over the Brewers, but he'll be eligible to come off the IL when the Cubs open their second-half schedule July 22 in Philadelphia. It's not yet clear if the veteran right-hander will be ready to go by then, as his availability coming out of the All-Star break will hinge on how much progress he makes in his rehab and throwing program over the next two weeks. He previously avoided the IL last June but still went 13 days between starts after experiencing shoulder fatigue, so it's possible the Cubs take a more conservative approach with his recovery this time around. Hendricks joins five other starting pitchers on the IL, though both Marcus Stroman (shoulder) and Drew Smyly (oblique) appear close to being activated, and either of the two could be an option to replace Hendricks' next turn in the rotation Sunday in Los Angeles.

Lugo (1-2) took the loss Tuesday as the Mets fell 1-0 to the Reds, giving up one run on one hit and two walks in one-third of an inning.

The right-hander entered a scoreless tie in the ninth inning but couldn't find the plate, tossing only eight of 17 pitches for strikes before Mike Moustakas launched a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to seal Cincinnati's win. Lugo was pitching on the second consecutive day with Edwin Diaz being held back for a potential save situation on the road, and that's a scenario Mets manager Buck Showalter may want to avoid in the future -- Lugo has made appearances on back-to-back days five times this season, and in the second game of those sets he's coughed up five runs in 4.1 innings.

Smyly (oblique) rejoined the Cubs on Wednesday and is expected to throw a bullpen session in the next day or two before the team decides whether to activate him from the 15-day injured list or send him to the minors for a second rehab start, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Both Smyly and fellow rehabbing starting pitcher Marcus Stroman (shoulder) were back with the big club after making rehab starts Monday and Sunday, respectively. In his outing with High-A South Bend, Smyly struck out six and covered four innings and tossed 52 pitches while allowing three earned runs on four hits. Unless the Cubs are comfortable having Smyly slot back into the rotation this weekend in Los Angeles on a limited pitch count, he'll most likely head back to South Bend or another affiliate for a second rehab start as he looks to get fully ramped up from the injury that has thus far sidelined him for five weeks.

Stroman (shoulder) returned from his rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session in front of the Cubs' coaching and training staffs in the next couple of days before the team determines his next step, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

Stroman has been on the 15-day injured list since early June with right shoulder inflammation and didn't look particularly sharp in his rehab outing with Iowa on Sunday, as he was tagged for five earned runs on seven hits and one walk. With that in mind, it wouldn't be surprising if the Cubs opted to send Stroman out for a second rehab start so that he gets more stretched out and hopefully tightens up his command. Expect more definitive word on Stroman's next steps to come by the weekend.

Walker would like to sign a long-term deal with the Mets after his current contract expires, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The veteran right-hander has a player option for 2023 that could be worth up to $8.5 million, but his performance so far this season would likely earn a much bigger salary on the open market. Walker indicated this week that if he does opt out, he would prefer to sign a longer deal with the Mets rather than head elsewhere. "I've been on short-term deals my last two free agencies," said Walker. "It would be nice to do a longer-term deal and kind of just be set up in one place and know that I'm going to be here for a couple years. Maybe have my family settle in a little bit. That would be nice." Any extension or contract talks with Walker likely won't happen until the season is over, but with Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt and Carlos Carrasco all on expiring deals as well, the Mets will have a lot of decisions to make on which members of the rotation to bring back and which to let go.